[Updated] Plex aware of Apple TV stuttering issue when playing 4K HDR remuxes after v8.12 update, potential workaround inside

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on December 15, 2022) follows:

Plex is one of the most popular streaming services and a client–server media player platform. The service helps one organize media from personal collections and online services.

By making use of its server application, one can also stream content to a variety of devices. It also allows users to stream content from its catalog of 200 live channels.

However, like any other media streaming platform, Plex also suffers from occasional bugs and issues that hinder the experience of the end user.

Plex for Apple TV stuttering during 4K HDR playback

According to reports (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8), multiple users are experiencing heavy stuttering while playing 4K HDR remuxes.

A majority of viewers are facing significant drops in framerate and experiencing random sound loss and audio sync issues while playing 4K content on the app.

The Plex for Apple TV app received the v8.12 update a few weeks ago.

Although the patch was meant to fix some previous issues and add to the app’s feature set, it ended up introducing more problems, spoiling the user’s playback experience.

I finally upgraded to an Apple TV that I’ve hard-wired into a Google Fiber connection that can play 4K content without any pausing or buffering. The issue that I am having though, is that every ten or so seconds, I’ll get a single frame juddering.
Source

When watching 4K HDR remuxes with 8.12, it seems there’s a single dropped frame happening about every minute or so. Depending on the action that’s on-screen when this dropped frame happens in might or might not be noticeable, but it’s there. While watching a full movie someone is bound to notice it quite a few times.
Source

Some even complained that when consuming content, the sound would play for about 10 seconds and then stop entirely.

The app recently received the v8.13 update fixing some of the old issues related to crashing while browsing sources and wrong thumbnails.

However, it must be noted that the 4K HDR playback issues on Plex for Apple TV remain unresolved.

Still no fix for UHD HDR remux playback. Dropped frames, audio sync and dropouts.
Source

Fortunately, Plex has acknowledged the issue and assured its users that they are working on fixing it.

While the company says it’s working on fixing the bugs, no ETA has been shared for the time being.

Potential workaround

We did come across a potential workaround that may help solve the problem for some. One could get rid of the issue by trying to switch back to the old video player from the settings.

But it should be noted that switching back to the old player will revoke Dolby Vision content playability, and some may still experience minor stuttering.

02:32 pm (IST): There is another potential workaround that involves turning on the match dynamic range and match frame rate on your Apple TV. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Go to Settings
2. then Video and Audio
3. Match Content, and then turn ‘ON’ the match dynamic range and match frame rate setting
Source

That said, we will keep an eye on the issue where Apple TV users are experiencing stuttering during 4K HDR playback on the Plex app and update this story as we come across any new information.

Featured image source: Plex.

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.